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3 <br /> RES-2021-046 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF <br /> AGRICULTURE - REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP GRANT <br /> APPLICATION BY TRIANGLE J COUNCIL OF GOVERMENTS <br /> WHEREAS, exacerbated by COVID, the fragmented realities of the Triangle region's <br /> complex food system have solidified the need to cultivate a new narrative between <br /> regional consumers and a regional food system community of practice; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Triangle, as one of the nation's fastest growing regions, needs a <br /> collaborative, regional approach to growing a more consistent, resilient, and equitable <br /> food system; and <br /> WHEREAS, through such practices as storytelling, capacity building, and creating a <br /> shared framework for long-term planning, representation of marginalized populations <br /> within the food system can be amplified and strengthened; and <br /> WHEREAS, to address all of these issues, the Triangle J Council of Governments is <br /> leading the creation of a grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop <br /> a proactive and collaborative planning process for creating a regional framework for food <br /> systems thinking in the region; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County representatives are part of the support team contributing to <br /> the grant proposal; and <br /> WHEREAS, the proposal will outline a structure and process for creating regional <br /> partnerships designed to coordinate the diverse entities working on various aspects of <br /> regional food system work, proposing to involve entities not currently working on such <br /> efforts but that should be doing so; and <br /> WHEREAS, a regional strategic plan will be proposed to focus on standardizing and <br /> prioritizing goals and action plans, strengthening opportunities to augment regional <br /> partnerships, leverage funding sources, reduce duplication, and offer economies of scale; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, the strategic plan will promote equity and inclusivity, implementing strategies <br /> to effectively address racial, income, and geographic disparities associated with food and <br /> food systems planning in the region; and <br /> WHEREAS, the participation of Orange County and other local governments will help <br /> address equity as it relates to the intersections between food system planning and <br /> economic development, housing, transportation, natural resources, and clean energy; <br /> and <br />